Earth grading apparatus



May 7; 1957 .1, E. HANCOCK EARTH GRADING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 3, 1952 v i? INVENTOR .elkfizeszfwma/i;

ATTORNEKf May 7, 1957 J. E. HANCOCK EARTH GRADING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 3, 1952 I ATTORNEYS 4 Shee ts-Sheet 5 Filed Dec. 3, 1952 R Hm m. m

ATTORNEYS y 7, 1957 J. E. HANCOCK 2,791,043

EARTH GRADING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 5, 1952,

IN VENTOR EARTH GRADING APPARATUS James E. Hancock, Lubbock, Tex.

Application December 3, 1952, Serial No. 323,768

Claims. (Cl. 31-410) This invention relates to earth grading machines and more particularly to elevating graders.

An important object of the invention is the provision of an earth grading machine which can be readily converted to a motor grader or an elevating grader.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a unitary attachment device for converting a motor grader to an elevating grader.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a novel elevating grader machine which can be quickly and easily attached to, or detached from, a motor grader, as a single unit.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an earth grading attachment formotor graders wherein the component parts of the apparatus are operatively carried by a unitary supporting frame adapted for ready attachment to, and detachment from, the frame of the motor grader.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mobile type elevating grader comprising an endless type belt conveyor and a plow for delivering earth to the conveyor, wherein means are provided for cleaning dirt from the inner side of the belt during operation of the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to improve and simplify the construction and operation of elevating graders.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view, partly in section, showing the apparatus of the invention operatively suspended from the frame of a motor grader,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus showing the points of attachment to the motor grader frame,

Figure 3' is a side elevational view of the apparatus, as viewed from the right in Figure 2, and showing the manner of connecting the same with the lifting mechanism on the motor grader frame,

Figure 4 is a side elevational view of a portion of the apparatus, as viewed fromthe'lower left in Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a detailed view of a portion of the plow supporting frame,

Figure 6 is avertical cross-sectional view taken through a portion of the belt'conveyor showing the two way spiral conveyor for cleaning the belt, and

Figure 7, is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 77 of Figure 6.

In Figure 1 of the drawing there is diagrammatically illustrated a motor grader 10 which may beof any well known type such as, for example, the Allis-Chalmers AD-4 Motor Grader. This motor grader has a main frame 11 on which is mounted the usual enclosed worm and gear type lifting mechanisms 12 and 13 and circle control mechanism 14 (Figs. 1 and 3). These mechanisms are driven by individual shafts 15 through suitable power takeofrs'1'6 controlled by handles 17.

At its forward end the frame 11 is connected to a nite States Patent Patented May 7, 1957 downwardly extending frame arm 18, at the lower end of which are mounted the steering wheels 19. At its rear end, the frame 11 is provided with downwardly curved, diverging legs integrally connected to a rear frame section 21 on which are mounted the driving wheels 22, engine 23, and operators seat 24. Various controls (not shown) are also provided and these are readily accessible to the operator for controlling the operation of the apparatus.

In addition to the structure thus far described, the motor grader 10 is also conventionally equipped with a scraper blade and circle, the latter being connected to the cranks 26, 27 and 28 of the lifting and circle control mechanisms, previously referred to, by links such as 29, 30 and 31 and to a universal joint connection 32, mounted on the lower end of the arm 18, by a T-shaped draw bar. In the use of the unitary elevating grader apparatus of the present invention, now to be described, the scraper blade, circle and draw bar are disconnected and removed, and such apparatus is mounted on the motor grader frame in place thereof.

The unitary elevating grader apparatus comprises a main frame 35 (Fig. 2) on which the component parts of the apparatus are mounted. This frame consists of longitudinally extending substantially parallel frame members 36 and 37, connected at suitable intervals by transverse frame members 38 and 39. These frame members may comprise steel I-beams, H-beams, box beams or the like, which are preferably welded together to provide a strong and rigid supporting frame.

Forwardly of the transverse member 39 the frame 35 is provided with forwardly converging, downwardly inclined frame members 40 and 41 having their rear ends secured to the frame members 36 and 37 and their forward ends secured to each other and provided with a bearing 42 for receiving the shaft 42a of the universal joint 32. Rearwardly of the transverse member 38 the frame members 36 and 37 are provided with extensions 43 and 44 having cars 45 and 46 formed on the ends thereof. These ears are adapted to be connected to ears 47 and 48, welded or otherwise secured to the lower ends of the downwardly curved legs 20, by pins 50. These connections, together with the connection of the frame members 44) and 41 to the universal joint 32, provide the sole means for attaching the supporting frame 35 to the frame of the motor grader thereby simplifying and facilitating the mounting and demounting of the unitary elevating grader apparatus.

An endless belt conveyor $5 is mounted on the frame 35 transversely. thereof for receiving dirt from a disk plow 56, hereinafter described, and discharging it laterally of the apparatus. The conveyor 55 is preferably formed of hinged sections 57 and 53, each of which includes side frame members $2 and 69 between which upper rollers 61 are rotatably mounted for supporting the upper run of the continuous belt 63. Rollers 62 are also provided for supporting the lower run of the conveyor belt and these may desirably be mounted on brackets 62a secured to, and depending downwardly from the side frame members 59 and 60. The side frame members 59 and 60 of the sections 57 and 58 are hingedly connected together at their inner ends by a hinge pin 64.

At the outer or upper end of the section 57 is arranged a driving roller 65, as clearly shown in Figures 3 and 4. The roller 65, is driven by a shaft 66, suitably connected to a power takeolf (not shown) from the engine 23, and having driving connection with a telescopic shaft 67, through a right angle gear box 63. The shaft 67, in turn, is drivingly connected with the roller 65, through a gear box 69. The shaft 67 is connected to the gear box 68 and gear box 69 by universal joints 7i) and 71, to permit raising of the hinged section 57 in a manner hereinafter described. The shaft 66 is likewise connected to the gear box 68 through a universal joint 72. A suitable clutch mechanism ofany desired type (not shown) is preferably included between the shaft 66 and the power take-off from the engine 23 in order that the operator of the apparatus may control the operation of the conveyor 55, as desired.

At the end thereof opposite the hinged end, the section 58 of the conveyor 55 is provided with a belt supporting roller 73 (Fig. 6), and this roller is of the open bar type for a purpose to be described. The roller 73 is rotatably mounted between the side frame members 59 and 60 of the conveyor section 58 and serves to guide and support the lower end of the conveyor belt 63.

Extending upwardly from each side edge of the conveyor belt 63 are a pair of oppositely disposed guide boards 75 and 76. These guide boards preferably flare outwardly along their upper portions, as shown at 77 and 78, and are supported in position by brackets 79 and 80, secured at their upper ends to the flared portions 77 and 78, and at their lower ends to the side frame members 59 and 60.

Adjacent its lower forward edge the conveyor section 58 carries a curved metal guard plate 82. The guard plate 82 may be secured to the side frame member 60 in any suitable manner and serves to prevent earth from entering into the space between the upper and lower runs of the conveyor belt 63 during operation of the apparatus.

The belt supporting roller 73 is of the open bar type, as previously indicated, and comprises a plurality of circumferentially arranged bars 83 carried by end plates 84 mounted on a shaft 85. By virtue of this arrangement and the centrifugal force generated by the rapid movement of the belt 63 around the roller 73, any dirt which has sifted downwardly onto the lower run of the belt 63 is carried upwardly and over by the bars 83 for discharge onto a downwardly inclined lip 86 of a trough 87. This trough extends transversely of the lower section of the conveyor between the side frame members thereof, and its curved bottom is slightly spaced from the lower run of the conveyor belt to permit dirt on the conveyor belt to pass under the curved bottom to the roller 73, where bars 83 may then act to discharge said earth onto the trough.

Dirt collected in the trough 87 is discharged through suitable openings at each side of the conveyor by a twoway screw type conveyor 90. This conveyor comprises oppositely disposed spiral blades 91 and 92 mounted on a shaft 93 rotatably journaled in bearings 94 secured to the side frame members 59 and 60.

In accordance with the invention, the conveyor 90 is designed to be driven bythe upper run of the conveyor belt 63 and for this purpose the conveyor is arranged so that the upper edges of the blades 91 and 92 are in driving engagement with the upper run of the conveyor belt. Such driving engagement will be effectively maintaincd by the weight of the earth carried by the upper run of the conveyor and as a result, the conveyor 90 will be positively driven to discharge dirt from the trough 87 continuously through the openings in the sides of the conveyor.

The conveyor 55 is hingedly connected to the frame 35 by a pair of oppositely disposed links 96. At their ends, the links 96 are pivotally connected to the hinge pin 64 of the conveyor and to struts 97, secured to and depending downwardly from the frame 35. This permits vertical adjustment of the conveyor sections, in a manner to be described, but serves to anchor the conveyor against longitudinal and transverse shift-ing movement.

The conveyor 55 is adjustably supported in position by a pair of chains 100 and two pairs of cables 101 and 102. At their lower ends, the chains 100 are secured to the lower or tail end of the conveyor section 58. At their upper ends, the chains 100 are secured to, and depend from, a pair of crank arms 103, fixed on a shaft 104 journaled in bearings carried by the frame 35. The shaft 104 has an arm 105 fixed thereto and this arm is pivotally connected, as at 106, to the link 30 of the circle control mechanism 14. By virtue of the indicated connections, it will be apparent that when the circle control mechanism 14 is actuated to swing the crank 27 thereof, that the shaft 104 and the cranks 103 carried thereby will be rotated to move the chains 100, and hence the end of the conveyor, either upwardly or downwardly, as desired.

The cables 101 have their lower ends secured to the hinge pin 64 and pass upwardly around drums (Fig. 4), on which they are adapted to be wound to raise the intermediate portion of the conveyor. The drums 110 are carried by a shaft 111 rotatably mounted on a framework 112, secured to, and extending laterally outwardly from, the main frame 35. The framework 112 may dcsirably be braced by diagonal frame members 113, secured at their ends to the struts 97 and to the framework 112.

Adjacent one end thereof the shaft 111 has fixed thereto a sprocket 114, drivingly connected with a sprocket 115, by a chain 116. The sprocket 115 is carried by a shaft 117 rotatably journaled in a bearing support secured to the frame member 113. The shaft 117 is provided with a handle 118 for rotating the same and a suitable pawl and ratchet mechanism 119 for releasably holding it against rotation in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 3. It will thus be apparent that clockwise rotation of the handle 115 will cause the cables 101 to be wound on the drums 110 to raise the intermediate portion of the conveyor and that the pawl and ratchet mechanism 119 will hold the conveyor in any desired raised position.

The cables 102 are secured at their outer ends, as at 120, to the conveyor section 57. At their inner ends, the cables 102 are secured to an A-frarne 121, pivotally connected at its lower end, as at 122, to the framework 112. A series of openings 123 may be provided in the A-frame 121 so that the cables 102 may be connected thereto at various positions therealong.

As will be apparent from Figure 3, the A-frame 121 is pivotally connected, as at 124, to the link 29 of the lifting mechanism 12. It will thus be apparent that when the lifting mechanism 12 is actuated to swing the crank 26 thereof that the A-frame 121 will be correspondingly swung about its pivot axis 122, to raise or lower the conveyor section 57 in a swinging movement about its hinge pin 64. This permits the conveyor section 57 to be raised to a substantially vertical position for travel on highways and to be lowered to any desired angular position for discharging earth from the outer end thereof at a desired height above the ground.

Earth is discharged onto the lower end of the conveyor 55 by the disk plow 56, previously referred to herein. The plow 56 is adjustably carried by a strut 125 secured to, and depending downwardly from, a yoke-shaped supporting frame comprising an outer longitudinally extending frame member 126, a forwardly and inwardly extending frame member 127 and a rear frame member 128. The frame member 127 is integrally connected to the frame member 126 at one end thereof and, at its opposite end, is connected to the frame member 41 of the frame 35, by a universal joint connection 129.

The rear frame member 128 is pivotally connected to the frame member 126 at its outer end, as at 130, and at its inner end, is connected to the rear strut 97 by a pin 131. A bracket 132 may desirably be secured to the strut 97 and spaced outwardly therefrom overa portion of its length to provide an opening or slot into which the end of the frame member 128 may be inserted and held in position. In order to provide for inward and outward adjustment of the plow supporting frame the inner end of the frame member 128 may desirably be provided with a plurality of openings 133 for receiving the pin 131.

In a preferred arrangement, the strut 125 is pivotally connected with the frame member 126 and is held in a desired operating position by an adjustable brace 135. The brace 135 is secured to the lower end of the strut 125 and extends upwardly and rearwardly therefrom for connection with the frame member 126. Adjustment of the brace 135 may be obtained in any suitable manner as by the use of threaded end portions 136 and 137 connected by a threaded sleeve 138. By virtue of this arrangement, the length of the brace 135 and hence the adjusted position of the plow 56, may be varied at will merely by rotating the sleeve 138 in one direction or the other.

From the above description it will be apparent that the plow supporting frame may be swung about the universal joint 129 and the pivot pin 131. This permits the plow 56 to be raised to an inoperative position for travelling along highways and the like, or lowered to ground engaging position at a desired depth of penetrationof the plow.

In accordance with the invention, the plow supporting frame is raised and lowered and held in a desired adjusted position, by the lifting mechanism 13. For this purpose the link 31 of the lifting mechanism 13 is detachably connected at its lower end to an car 140, integrally secured to the frame member 126. Thus as the crank 23 of the lifting mechanism 13 is swung in one direction or the other, the p-low supporting frame is likewise swung about the universal joint 129 and the pivot pin 131 to raise or lower the plow 56.

Operation Inorder to adapt a conventional motor grader, such as that. previously referred to herein, to use with the unitary elevating grader apparatus of the present invention, it is merely necessary to weld or otherwise secure the ears 47 and 48 to the-downwardly curving leg portions 20 and provide a driving shaft 66 and a suitable power takeoff from the engine 23 for driving the same, preferably through some sort of clutch device. The apparatus may then be mounted on the motor grader easily and quickly by connecting the forward end thereof to the universal joint connection 32 and the rear end thereof to the ears 47 and 48. The links 29, 30 and 31 of the lifting and circle control mechanisms may then be connected to the A-frame 121, the arm 105, and the plow supporting frame respectively, in the manner previously described, and the shaft 66 connected to the gear box 68. The motor grader is then ready for use as an elevating grader.

Alternatively, if it is desired to use the machine as a motor grader, the unitary elevating grader may be quickly removed in a reverse manner to that just described and the conventional scraper blade, circle and draw bar assembled on the frame of the motor grader in a wellknown manner.

In the use of the machine as an elevating grader, proper adjustment of the parts is made in the following manner. The conveyor section 58 is adjusted to the desired height above the ground by raising or lowering the chains 100 and the cables 101. This is accomplished by manipulating the particular handles 17 to initiate actuation of the circle control mechanism 14 in the desired direction, and by manually turning the handle 118. During such adjustment of the conveyor section 58 the links 96 swing about their points of connection with the struts 97 to the new adjusted position.

The conveyor section 57 may then be lowered to the desired operating position, usually in substantial alignment with the conveyor section 58, by manipulating the particular handles 17 for the lifting mechanism 12. This permits the conveyor section 57 to swing downwardly around the hinge pin 64 by the connecting and supporting means previously described. The plow 56 may then be lowered into operating position by manipulation of the handles 17 for the lifting mechanism 13.

When the parts are thus properly adjusted the operator, from his seat 24, manipulates the controls to simultaneously start the machine moving forward and the shaft 66 rotating. As the machine moves forward the plow 56 dislodges the earth in its path and moves it laterally on to the end of the conveyor belt 63. The belt 63, driven as hereinbefore described, continuously moves the dirt upwardly and discharges it over the upper end thereof into a truck or other conveyance, or onto the ground. Any dirt which sifts downwardly around the edge of the belt 63 on to the lower run thereof, is carried to the open bar type tail roller 73 and by virtue of centrifugal force is moved upwardly and over by the bars 83 and discharged onto the inclined lip 86 for movement downwardly into the trough 87. The dirt accumulating in the trough 87 is discharged through openings at each side of the conveyor by the two way screw conveyor 90. This conveyor, as previously indicated, is continuously rotated by the upper run of the conveyor belt 63, the weight of the dirt on the conveyor belt positively urging it into frictional engagement with the upper edges of the spiral conveyor blades 91 and 92.

Due to the forward movement of the apparatus the conveyor section 58 is normally positioned in close proximity to the ground and there is a tendency for dirt to work in and around the leading edge of the conveyor belt and the rollers 62. Such tendency is eliminated herein by the curved guard plate 82 which covers the lower leading edge of the conveyor section 58 to prevent the entrance of dirt thereto.

Swinging adjustment of the conveyor sections 57 and 58 about the hinge pin 64 may be made at any time merely by manipulation of the respective handles 17 and this may be done while the machine is in operation. Vertical adjustment of the plow 56 may also be made during operation of the device merely by manipulating the handles 17 for the lifting mechanism 13. The handles 17, as well as the other controls for the operation of the vehicle and the component parts thereof, are readily accessible to the operator from his seat 24. The movement and operation of the apparatus may thus be controlled by a single operator with comparative ease.

When it is desired to move the machine along a highway, the conveyor belt 63 is first stopped by disengaging the clutch which controls rotation of the shaft 66. The conveyor section 57 is then swung to a substantially vertical position and the plow 56 raised and disengaged from the earth by manipulation of the handles 17 for the lifting mechanisms 12 and 13. It may also be desirable to raise the conveyor section 58 somewhat to increase its clearance above the ground and this may be done by manipulation of the handle 17 for the circle control mechanism 14 and by turning the handle 118.

It willthus be seen that the present invention provides a highly effective apparatus of the elevating grader type which by virtue of its unitary construction may be easily and quickly mounted on a conventional motor grader to convert the same to an elevating grader. While a preferred embodiment of the device has been disclosed, the invention is not to be construed as limited to the specific details illustrated and described, except as included in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An attachment for a motor grader wherein the grader has an elongated, high, arched frame, wheels adjacent the front and rear ends of the frame for supporting same, said frame being adapted to carry grading means beneath and intermediate the ends of said arch, and longitudinally spaced attaching means mounted beneath the arched frame intermediate the ends thereof, said attachment comprising a unitary supporting frame adapted to extend lengthwise of said arched frame, means carried by said unitary supporting frame for detachably connecting same to said longitudinally spaced attaching means whereby said unitary supporting frame will be suspended rom and wholly supported by the said arched motor grader frame, an endless belt conveyor carried by said unitary supporting frame and extending transversely 1' 7 thereof, and a plow carried by said unitary supporting frame and arranged to dislodge earth and deliver it onto one end of the conveyor for movement therealong and discharge over the opposite end thereof.

2. Apparatus of the type set forth in claim 1 wherein said unitary supporting frame is provided with a depending strut intermediate the ends thereof, said plow being carried by a yoke member having one arm thereof pivotally connected to said strut and the opposite arm thereof universally connected to said unitary supporting frame, said unitary supporting frame having a pivotal arm thereon connected with said yoke and operable by means on the motor grader frame for raising and lowering said plow.

3. In a motor grader wherein the grader has an elongated, high, arched frame and Wheels adjacent the front and rear ends of the frame for supporting same, said frame being adapted to carry grading means beneath and intermediate the ends of said arch, an attachment device adapted to be suspended from the frame of the motor grader intermediate the ends thereof, said attachment device comprising a unitary supporting frame adapted to extend lengthwise of said arched frame, means for detachably connecting said unitary supporting frame beneath said arched motor grader frame at longitudinally spaced points therealong whereby said unitary supporting frame is suspended from and wholly supported by said arched motor grader frame, an endless conveyor carried by said unitary supporting frame and extending transversely thereof, said conveyor being hinged intermediate the ends thereof to provide relatively swingable sections, adjustable means connecting the sections to the unitary supporting frame and operable to effect relative swinging movement thereof, and a plow carried by the unitary supporting frame and arranged to dislodge earth and dis charge it onto one end of the conveyor.

4. In a motor grader having a frame and wheels adjacent the front and rear of the frame mobilely supporting same, an attachment device adapted to be suspended from the frame of the motor grader intermediate the ends thereof, said attachment device comprising a unitary supporting frame adapted to extend lengthwise of said arched frame, means at the ends of said unitary supporting frame for detachably connecting same beneath said motor grader frame at longitudinally spaced points therealong whereby said unitary supporting frame is suspended from and wholly supported by said motor grader frame, an endless conveyor carried by said unitary supporting frame and comprising a plurality of sections, means hingedly connecting the sections together, link means pivotally connected between the unitary supporting frame and the hinged means and being freely swingable thereabout, ad-

justable means connected between the hinge means and the unitary supporting frame for supporting the hinge means in a desired adjusted position, adjustable means connecting the ends of the sections to the unitary supporting frame for effecting relative swinging movement of the sections about the hinge means, and means carried by the unitary supporting frame for dislodging dirt and discharging it onto one end of the conveyor.

5. In a motor grader having a frame and wheels adjacent the front and rear of the frame mobilely supporting same, an attachment device adapted to be suspended from the frame of the motor grader intermediate the ends thereof, said attachment device comprising a unitary supporting frame extending lengthwise of the motor grader frame, means for detachably connecting said uni tary supporting frame beneath said motor grader frame at longitudinally spaced points therealong whereby said unitary supporting frame is suspended from and .wholly supported by said motor grader frame, an endless conveyor carried by said unitary supporting frame and comprising a pair of conveyor sections, means hingedly connecting said sections for relative swinging movement, link means pivotally connected between the unitary supporting, frame and the hinge means and being freely swingable thereabout, a lateral extension mounted on said unitary supporting frame intermediate the ends thereof, a drum rotatably mounted on said extension and having a cable wound thereon, said cable being secured at its end to said hinge means whereby the latter may be raised and lowered by rotation of the drum, and means carried by the frame of the motor grader for effecting swinging movement of said conveyorscctions about said hinge means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 394,907 Bennett et al. Dec. 18, 1888 394,908 Bunnell Dec. 18, 1888 619,374 Welch Feb. 14, 1899 858,685 Van Duser et a1 July 2, 1907 935,992 Kerr Oct. 5, 1909 1,580,638 Benbow Apr. 13, 1926 1,658,354 Ronning et al. Feb. 7, 1928 1,828,532 Gustafson Oct. 20, 1931 1,933,485 Rund et al. Oct. 31, 1933 2,000,072 Gedstad May 7, 1935 2,087,813 Peterson July 20, 1937 2,248,709 Iarmin July 8, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 150,611 Australia Mar. 24, 1953 

